Sunglasses

[Thracian]

I suppose we should all be celebrating three vital points from a local derby victory.

Well the predominant thought in my mind is "I've seen enough."

When we took the lead during the 10 minute spell either side of half-time which represented our only sustained period of real football the guy sitting next to me in the West Stand said: "Just watch how Levein sits on the lead and risks conceding an equaliser".

He was spot on. It was like pulling the switch prematurely on Blackpool Illuminations. Suddenly, and 35 minutes from the end, it all went dull and negative again.

Levein will doubtless cite a professional vicdtory.

Me - I'm fast coming to the conclusion he's like a big, grey rain cloud that's hanging over the club.

In all the many matches I've attended this year I've been entertained once - against Stoke City.

Today wasn't entertaining. Levein played that match for himself and his career, not for the club and its spectators.

I've read a quote from a Hearts fan who watched Levein's sides for three years and insisted: "He's the most arrogant man and he'll bore you to death."

Again, spot on.

First in his arrogance he persisted with NIls at left back and, again, he was shit because, again it was woefully apparent he is not a left back.

Coventry's goal came from a stroll through out left back position by King Kong, the Coventry number nine, who was rather like one of those Pickford Heavy Haulage Vehicles when it comes to speed.

Twice in two matches neglect at left back has cost us a goal but this time, I never imagined it would quite cost us the game.

Why? Because Coventry were so woeful, so lacking in pace and ideas it was surely incomprehensible. Indeed had I been a manager I would have been utterly ashamed not to have won by four or five clear goals.

Coventry wouldn't get out of the next division down with this team and might even struggle in division two.

So cut the smugness Craig.

How Leicester went 1-0 down at home to football's equivalent of the Chuckle Brothers (cos they really are a joke) was simply a symptom of Leicester own ineptitude.

How ironic too that the two goals that subsequently won the match were from the guy I felt obliged to do a "Let's here it for" thread last week - namely Mark DeVries.

Nothing really created or heartwarming but the big man was there - and with two headers! - which somehow emphasised how utterly inept were Coventry's defenders, Matt Heath and all..

Never mind. MDV can do no more than stick the ball in the net and that's what he does far more often than any other City player - cos that's eight goals now and I don't see any more City scorers in the League's list of leading marksmen.

There were other bright spots. Joey, Hume and McCarthy really did look like they were 100 per cent up for the game and up for City's cause. As did MDV as he usually does, although it's not always a pretty sight.

Momo seemed to cog in well with Hume but overall what a woeful spectacle it all was.

The Sunday newspapers are full of warning for football.... "Entertain or you die" and on this showing there's no question which way City are heading.

That Coventry are even worse just shows how far the Adams Family on this forum are away from reality. I've serious problems with Levein as a strategist but I think I'd rather have toothache than Mickey Adams.

His team was to football what Dobbin would have been to the Grand National. Nothing short of an embarrassment.

[Guest Gist]

Good post i know what you mean we cant sit back on a lead at home against such a poor side these are the games you should be scoring plenty given the chances we had but i am pleased we beat them and hopefully onwards and upwards

[Mark]

The 10 minutes after we scored the 2nd the players did seem really up for it (compared to the first half) and everytime the ball went out they hurried to get the ball and start attacking Coventry again. Which is how it should be, but it didn't last long.

I'm delighted we won, but to defend a 2-1 lead against such a shocking Coventry team for 30+ minutes was wrong. We were all over them.

And the subs consisted of 3 defenders. I don't like that. It should be a maximum of 1, a keeper and then 3 attack minded players who could change the game if needed.

[Guest Gist]

The 10 minutes after we scored the 2nd the players did seem really up for it (compared to the first half) and everytime the ball went out they hurried to get the ball and start attacking Coventry again. Which is how it should be, but it didn't last long.

I'm delighted we won, but to defend a 2-1 lead against such a shocking Coventry team for 30+ minutes was wrong. We were all over them.

And the subs consisted of 3 defenders. I don't like that. It should be a maximum of 1, a keeper and then 3 attack minded players who could change the game if needed.

too right .. we could have finished top half today if we scored another 3

[Babylon]

too right .. we could have finished top half today if we scored another 3

Yeah sack Levein because we don't win 5-1.

[Gené and Tonic]

to be fair, we could have won that game easily. Stick with Levein for now. But beating Cov 2-1 isn't that hard.

[Benji]

after the way we started second half

i feel some naughty words were said at half time

[Libertine]

Yeah sack Levein because we don't win 5-1.

He didn't mention anything about sacking Levein.

[lush]

He was spot on. It was like pulling the switch prematurely on Blackpool Illuminations. Suddenly, and 35 minutes from the end, it all went dull and negative again.

Today wasn't entertaining. Levein played that match for himself and his career, not for the club and its spectators.

First in his arrogance he persisted with NIls at left back and, again, he was shit because, again it was woefully apparent he is not a left back.

Thrach, you certainly know how to "thrach" out a thread debate

35mins? na mate, the game was at filbert way, not cov I thought that we attacked until the end, and was close to killing it off.

What manager doesnt do the job for him, himself, and he. You cant expect a manager whos a multi millionaire to entertain the masses at the possible cost of looking stupid and loosing his ego.

Paying to watch "professional" football teams is NOT about being entertained, that is not why people go, its about scoring atleast one goal more than the opposition.

I thought NEJ was good, considering he was out of position. I dont remember him making a mistake, do you?

[Guest Gist]

Yeah sack Levein because we don't win 5-1.

i did'nt say that im behind levein just saying we should'nt sit back against such a poor side

[lush]

I'm delighted we won, but to defend a 2-1 lead against such a shocking Coventry team for 30+ minutes was wrong. We were all over them.

Was i the only one who saw their goalie produce 2 magnificent saves during the latter part of the 2nd half? Both one handed saves next to the post, one by a swinging Hume drive.

We were so close to going 3-1 up, wernt we?

[Libertine]

Was i the only one who saw their goalie produce 2 magnificent saves during the latter part of the 2nd half? Both one handed saves next to the post, one by a swinging Hume drive.

We were so close to going 3-1 up, wernt we?

No, I saw them, both great saves.

[lush]

No, I saw them, both great saves.

So why are people saying we shouldnt have defended for 35mins, we attacked equally. I think some people just expect to say this now. Just tell the truth, because those that didnt go will think we didnt play to kill the game off, negative.

[Thracian]

Thrach, you certainly know how to "thrach" out a thread debate

35mins? na mate, the game was at filbert way, not cov I thought that we attacked until the end, and was close to killing it off.

What manager doesnt do the job for him, himself, and he. You cant expect a manager whos a multi millionaire to entertain the masses at the possible cost of looking stupid and loosing his ego.

Paying to watch "professional" football teams is NOT about being entertained, that is not why people go, its about scoring atleast one goal more than the opposition.

I thought NEJ was good, considering he was out of position. I dont remember him making a mistake, do you?

Watch the video closely if you get the chance. Leicester gradually went progressively more safety first as soon as they went ahead. As time went on there was therefore insufficient backing for our increasingly less adventurous attacks.

As for Nils the Coventry goal was sourced right through the Leicester's left-back area and was scored directly as a result of a low cross from that flank. Nils certainly dealt with what little attacking threat Coventry presented thereafter but, apart from one excellent run and move he was largely uninvolved in attack and his passing was ordinary rather than penetrating.

I agree his perormance was okay enough for someone playing out of position. It's just that he simply doesn't offer anywhere near as much as Sheehan in the position. There is nothing Nils does that Sheehan can't do but many things which Sheehan does which Nils never does.

[BenFilbert]

People moan because we don't win. When we do win they moan because we didn't win by enough or because it wasn't entertaining enough. I don't care! WE WON! Isn't that enough. "No" i hear you all cry. Silly! We're 13th. Mid table. That's good for now. We'll improve over time.

[davieG]

Watch the video closely if you get the chance. Leicester gradually went progressively more safety first as soon as they went ahead. As time went on there was therefore insufficient backing for our increasingly less adventurous attacks.

As for Nils the Coventry goal was sourced right through the Leicester's left-back area and was scored directly as a result of a low cross from that flank. Nils certainly dealt with what little attacking threat Coventry presented thereafter but, apart from one excellent run and move he was largely uninvolved in attack and his passing was ordinary rather than penetrating.

I agree his perormance was okay enough for someone playing out of position. It's just that he simply doesn't offer anywhere near as much as Sheehan in the position. There is nothing Nils does that Sheehan can't do but many things which Sheehan does which Nils never does.

I don't think it was intentional to get more defensive, I didn't see CL telling them to get back and I certainly saw Joey telling everyone to get forward on more than one occasion in the 2nd half. I think a lot of it is down to a lack of confidence, they did gradually drift back they also started to panic kick the ball upfield more and more. Until we can go ahead in a few consecutive games and hold on to / build a lead I think this will continue to happen. Success will breed confidence and that will prolong the attacking play.

[BenFilbert]

I don't think it was intentional to get more defensive, I didn't see CL telling them to get back and I certainly saw Joey telling everyone to get forward on more than one occasion in the 2nd half. I think a lot of it is down to a lack of confidence, they did gradually drift back they also started to panic kick the ball upfield more and more. Until we can go ahead in a few consecutive games and hold on to / build a lead I think this will continue to happen. Success will breed confidence and that will prolong the attacking play.

That's exactly true. I say all that above!

[Thracian]

So why are people saying we shouldnt have defended for 35mins, we attacked equally. I think some people just expect to say this now. Just tell the truth, because those that didnt go will think we didnt play to kill the game off, negative.

Don't think I actually said we "defended" for 35 minutes just that we didn't continue to go forward as a team but rather "sat" on our lead and took all the supposed risks out of our play.

We had a wonderful 10-12 minute spell after half time when we went ahead and put together some flowing moves.

Increasingly, however, the support was lost leaving people like Hume and Sylla to try and create in progressively greater isolation. In some ways they did it remarkably well but it wasn't what I would call sustained and supported attacking.

Levein seemed happy to have what he held. He always does.

As a team performance the win was welcome but the means warranted no more than a 6/10. And yet the 10 minutes after half-time showed just what the team COULD do.

[lush]

I agree his perormance was okay enough for someone playing out of position. It's just that he simply doesn't offer anywhere near as much as Sheehan in the position. There is nothing Nils does that Sheehan can't do but many things which Sheehan does which Nils never does.

Don't think I actually said we "defended" for 35 minutes just that we didn't continue to go forward as a team but rather "sat" on our lead and took all the supposed risks out of our play.

Sheehan would give us a more defensive and attacking force, but sadly CL has forgotten he exists.

Sitting on our lead Thrach, is defending.

Thrach, did you see us go close to 3-1 at anytime?

[Thracian]

I don't think it was intentional to get more defensive, I didn't see CL telling them to get back and I certainly saw Joey telling everyone to get forward on more than one occasion in the 2nd half. I think a lot of it is down to a lack of confidence, they did gradually drift back they also started to panic kick the ball upfield more and more. Until we can go ahead in a few consecutive games and hold on to / build a lead I think this will continue to happen. Success will breed confidence and that will prolong the attacking play.

I think that's probably right - but it really is frustrating. The fans are waiting for some signs, at long last, that we have a team capable of playing sustained, flowing football.

Anyway, a nice thought...six points from nine during the lad's absence but, guess what, Gold-Smith's back for the next League match.

Will the sunshine finally come out from behind the clouds?

[tshine]

if we had of pushed to hard for a 3rd and conceeded you would all be saying we should of held on

[Thracian]

if we had of pushed to hard for a 3rd and conceeded you would all be saying we should of held on

This is a fundamental misunderstanding. My belief is that, generally, it is SAFER to continue attacking as a team (if that is what has given you the advantage) than to gradually commit fewer resources to attack and hope the opposition don't "pinch" an equaliser.

Look back over the last two years and see how many times we tried to "play out" from 1-0 or 2-0 ahead and paid the penalty or got caught out trying to see out a 0-0 draw.

In three points for a win football it makes far more sense to keep going forward - quite apart from being more exciting for the fans.

I am not trying to suggest this is anything like as big a fault with Levein as it was with Adams. It isn't because Levein doesn't tend to retreat, just to play safer. It's just his cautious philosophy that forever needles me. That comment after the Stoke game about "not knowing why on earth his team were chasing more goals".

Occcasionally, I agree that continuing to attack will result in the opposition scoring. But how many more times would sustained attacking have won the game? Lots in recent seasons.

[tshine]

fair point

[Deathside]

I hate this thread - Because for the first and probably the only time ever I am in agreement with Lush!

First half I thought cov were easily the better side - No surprise when they scored and wouldn't have been any great surprise if they'd scored again

Thought we picked up towards the end of the half and I thought their keeper made a couple of decent saves (as well as making some easy saves look difficult!)

Start of the second half was class - I suddenly remembered what it was like to actually be excited by being at the match - These days it seems more of a chore

I don't think it was deliberate defending for 35 mins or whatever - More a case of cov starting to get to grips after not knowing what hit them and us getting tired

The cov keeper certainly kept the score respectable with a string of fine saves

[Ric Flair]

I suppose we should all be celebrating three vital points from a local derby victory.

Well the predominant thought in my mind is "I've seen enough."

When we took the lead during the 10 minute spell either side of half-time which represented our only sustained period of real football the guy sitting next to me in the West Stand said: "Just watch how Levein sits on the lead and risks conceding an equaliser".

He was spot on. It was like pulling the switch prematurely on Blackpool Illuminations. Suddenly, and 35 minutes from the end, it all went dull and negative again.

Levein will doubtless cite a professional vicdtory.

Me - I'm fast coming to the conclusion he's like a big, grey rain cloud that's hanging over the club.

In all the many matches I've attended this year I've been entertained once - against Stoke City.

Today wasn't entertaining. Levein played that match for himself and his career, not for the club and its spectators.

I've read a quote from a Hearts fan who watched Levein's sides for three years and insisted: "He's the most arrogant man and he'll bore you to death."

Again, spot on.

First in his arrogance he persisted with NIls at left back and, again, he was shit because, again it was woefully apparent he is not a left back.

Coventry's goal came from a stroll through out left back position by King Kong, the Coventry number nine, who was rather like one of those Pickford Heavy Haulage Vehicles when it comes to speed.

Twice in two matches neglect at left back has cost us a goal but this time, I never imagined it would quite cost us the game.

Why? Because Coventry were so woeful, so lacking in pace and ideas it was surely incomprehensible. Indeed had I been a manager I would have been utterly ashamed not to have won by four or five clear goals.

Coventry wouldn't get out of the next division down with this team and might even struggle in division two.

So cut the smugness Craig.

How Leicester went 1-0 down at home to football's equivalent of the Chuckle Brothers (cos they really are a joke) was simply a symptom of Leicester own ineptitude.

How ironic too that the two goals that subsequently won the match were from the guy I felt obliged to do a "Let's here it for" thread last week - namely Mark DeVries.

Nothing really created or heartwarming but the big man was there - and with two headers! - which somehow emphasised how utterly inept were Coventry's defenders, Matt Heath and all..

Never mind. MDV can do no more than stick the ball in the net and that's what he does far more often than any other City player - cos that's eight goals now and I don't see any more City scorers in the League's list of leading marksmen.

There were other bright spots. Joey, Hume and McCarthy really did look like they were 100 per cent up for the game and up for City's cause. As did MDV as he usually does, although it's not always a pretty sight.

Momo seemed to cog in well with Hume but overall what a woeful spectacle it all was.

The Sunday newspapers are full of warning for football.... "Entertain or you die" and on this showing there's no question which way City are heading.

That Coventry are even worse just shows how far the Adams Family on this forum are away from reality. I've serious problems with Levein as a strategist but I think I'd rather have toothache than Mickey Adams.

His team was to football what Dobbin would have been to the Grand National. Nothing short of an embarrassment.

I totally disagree. I sat about 10 rows from Levein as I was in the executive seats for the game and I can honestly tell you that Levein wasn't telling the players to sit on the lead. We had so many chances in the second half and that to me doesn't amount to a team being told to sit on a lead. Hume could of had 3 in the 2nd half, Hamill had a great effort saved, plus there were a couple of other chances.

I might be in the minority here but I thought second half we were inspired and although Coventry are awful we looked very dangerous.

I am keen to read all your posts and you talk a very good game but it appears that you only see things in black and white and there's nothing in between to rationalise with. I've learnt that it's best to enjoy the wins while you can as the situation we are in isn't a quick fix and although we are slowly getting better it will be like this for a while yet.